3 things:

(1.) I think if you’re only looking at oil pulling as a dental practice then you’re missing alot. It’s a detox method which a lot of people claim has helped everything from sinus problems to arthritis and much more.

(2.) The dental benefits are proven and extraordinary. Considering that oil pulling is a simple and natural (provided you use a good oil) process, it’s hard to understand why you feel there are better things to try. Not everyone can afford Toothsoap you know!

See here for page about oil pulling studies:
http://iadr.confex.com/iadr/2008Toronto/techprogram/abstract_105440.htm

(3.) It’s really not the time suck you make it out to be. Most people do it in the shower, while reading email, or just about anything else..

Check out this site to see all the testimonials of people who have been doing it for years with success:

http://iadr.confex.com/iadr/2008Toronto/techprogram/abstract_105440.htm

“11:54 pm on September 15th, 2009

I first heard about oil pulling in Mikhail Tombak’s book, “Can We Live 150 Years?” He calls it oil sucking and says that Siberian healers have been using it for generations. He says to do it first thing in the morning for 30 minutes. In 30 minutes you’ve 3.5-4.0 quarts of blood through the mouth area.”

Okay, so here’s what I don’t get:

If you pull 3-4 quarts of blood through the mouth area during a 30 minute time frame, aren’t the ‘toxins’ or bacteria around the teeth also being pulled throughout the bloodstream?

Doesn’t make sense.

???

If you are looking to decrease cavities, saliva and xylitol play independent, but beneficial roles. Saliva has an enormous buffering capacity to neutralize acids caused by bacteria feeding on fermentable carbohydrates. So yes,even chewing wax can increase saliva flow if a dry mouth is not caused by diabetes, Sjogrens, prescription meds, etc. Gum chewing can increase salvia flow by about 10 times. Older people are at high risk for gum line cavities because their saliva flow is often compromised, as is the texture and consistency of it.

Adding xylitol works in part because cavity-causing bacteria begin to prefer it over other sugars, if the dose and time exposure is correct. But they can’t metabolize it so they quit producing the acids that cause cavities and that make their own existence tenable. The workable dosage from studies is 1 gram in gum 4X a day for five minutes over six weeks. Makes sense to chew it after every meal and then once after a snack. Spry gum and lozenges and Theragum and Theramints can be found in many health food stores. The other gums that advertise xylitol also contain sorbitol and manitol which dilutes the xylitol. Also bacteria can feed off of these sugars.

Hope this helps.